Description

Timeless Donald Byrd – Savoy Recordings Remastered Edition

Product Information

Key Details

UPC: 795041712820
Product Type: Jazz Album Remastered Edition
Format: Audio CD
Label: Savoy Records
Series: Timeless Series (20-bit Digital Transfer)

Featured Artists & Personnel:

Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Frank Foster – Tenor Saxophone
John Jenkins – Saxophone
Hank Jones – Piano
Kenny Clarke – Drums
Curtis Fuller – Trombone
Tommy Flanagan – Piano

Overview

Experience the unparalleled artistry of Donald Byrd at the peak of his hard bop powers with these classic Savoy recordings. Capturing the young maestro early in his career—before he became a crossover king in the '70s—these sessions showcase Byrd’s exceptional facility, unique attack, and deep emotional expression, traits that have made his horn playing so influential in the jazz world. Born on December 09, 1932, Donald Byrd first garnered acclaim through his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the mid-'50s. Firmly rooted in the bebop tradition, these recordings highlight a golden tone and uncommon poise that continue to inspire jazz musicians today.

Product Features

Audio & Recording Quality

State-of-the-Art Transfer:
Savoy’s Timeless Series delivers high-resolution digital transfers using 20-bit mastering technology. These transfers from the original tape masters ensure an authentic and lifelike reproduction of every historic detail.
Historical Sessions:
The recordings capture Donald Byrd in his early 20s, exhibiting the robust, dynamic playing that defined his early career and set the stage for his later ventures into crossover jazz.

Track Listing & Timings

Long Green – 4:29
Star Eyes – 7:46
Someone To Watch Over Me – 7:37
Honeylike – 7:34
Orpheus – 7:41
Winterset – 7:11

Additional Personnel Contributions

Frank Foster, John Jenkins, & Curtis Fuller:
Their distinctive contributions complement Byrd’s pioneering trumpet work, adding layers of depth and swing to each performance.
Hank Jones & Tommy Flanagan:
Their elegant piano stylings enhance the overall melodic and harmonic sophistication of these sessions.
Kenny Clarke:
Provides the rhythmic backbone with his masterful drumming, solidifying the dynamic energy of the hard bop tradition.

Interesting Facts

A Landmark in Jazz History

Early Brilliance:
These recordings document a young Donald Byrd at his most ambitious and inspired, firmly grounded in bebop even as he later embraced broader musical vistas in the '70s.
Influential Recordings:
His work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers had already set the stage for a remarkable career. In these sessions, Byrd’s distinctive tone and phrasing are captured with a fidelity that highlights why fellow musicians continue to revere his artistry.
Modern Remastering:
Utilizing advanced 20-bit digital transfer and mastering, this release ensures that every subtle nuance—from the crisp snap of Kenny Clarke’s sticks to the warm, resonant sounds of Byrd’s trumpet—is delivered in pristine quality.

Production Credits

Series Producer: Steve Backer
Executive Producer: Steve Vining
Production: 2002 SLG, LLC, 429 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 330, Santa Monica, CA 90405